After the stillness of quiet comes a time of waiting. How many of us are skilled in waiting? I know many that seem to have a natural gift of patience. Having patience doesn’t always mean it is easy to wait upon God. After the Resurrection, the Lord didn’t give the disciples a choice in waiting.
He simply told them, as Luke records: Luke 24: 44-49: ” And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
The indwelling Holy Spirit is a gift from God to all who believe. It comes in God’s time and with His power. The disciples couldn’t choose the time or place, it was Jesus that told them where to go and wait for this “power from on high”. They were going to be sent out to the entire world, in God’s time. We need simply to look at what this “power” has worked for the last two thousand years. The disciples witnessed of the power of God, to save a world that was lost and dying. Jesus told his disciples that they would be sent as His Father had Sent Him, in John 20:21 “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”
“Repentance and remission of sins” continues to be preached today! The power that established the early church remains God’s “power from on high”, because it is preached with the backing of His authority. It is in the name that is above every other name, that has sent every believer into the mission field, at home or abroad. It is because Jesus shed His life’s Blood as the sacrificial lamb that has taken away the debt of sin, that today we can thank and praise God for our Salvation. Quiet and waiting doesn’t mean there is not any activity. Jesus did not cease to go about His work, he drew His disciples to the scriptures so He could open their understanding of what had transpired.
In His own words, Jesus speaks to all of us, to the entire world. In Matthew 11; 25-30: “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
We wait, just like a small child does, to be supplied with everything necessary. Our God is good and gracious, He will supply to all that wait on the promise of His Word, as He provided for those first disciples to bring the witness of His great Love for mankind.
Pastor Stan
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